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Post by carole58 on Oct 26, 2019 11:27:37 GMT
This thread is for all of us who have been on the weight loss merry-go-round quite a few times. We have banded together to make this our FINAL time. We offer support & motivation, WEIGHT LOSS TIPS, food ideas – whatever you need to make it your FINAL time. If you start the day’s thread, please copy and paste this paragraph.
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Post by carole58 on Oct 26, 2019 11:49:58 GMT
Good morning ladies from Falls Church, VA. Interesting area we are staying in... but the hotel is ok, so we are good. We arrived yesterday in just 8 hours... with time to relax... but, as (our) luck would have it the tub was not an option. They had just drained it and replaced the water, so It.Was.COLD! Ugh... so... just got dressed and headed out to dinner. We arrived way early, so we wandered around the area... then sat outside the restaurant... I saw Lisa's husband arrive... from FB pics I knew it was him. But I was just unsure enough that I didn't say anything, except to Ken and Tracy. After they seated the three of us, Todd came in and sat down... such a nice guy... Anyway... everyone arrived and we enjoyed a good meal, and great friendships. While I didn't get to visit with Gabrielle's friends... (long table for 9)I did get to talk with Lisa and Todd and Gabrielle... what a joyous night.
Lise is as gorgeous in person... as she is in pics... and truly a wonderful welcoming gal. Talked like we had been meeting like this for the past 10 years. Despite my apprehension I had a great night.
Gabrielle: Thank you so much for making time for a visit with us. Hopefully today you have a more relaxed day of sightseeing and you will be ready for tomorrow.
I feel so grateful for all of you, and am still on a mission to meet you all... and have a reunion somewhere - sometime... all of us... all together.
OK, getting a little later start to the day... but need to get ready for breakfast... then heading to Arlington cemetery this morning before we head into DC for the day.
Not sure I can catch up at breakfast but will try.
Oh... considering 8 hours in the car, I still managed over 6k steps! Eating wasn't good, but water was great, got about 100 0z., that'd too in a car for 8 hours was tricky! LOL
Will check back when I can.
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Post by gymma60 on Oct 26, 2019 13:45:51 GMT
OK....before I catch up I will share the rest of the responses to the blind-siding email from yesterday....the first is mine and the next was Katie's last night, probably after she & David talked a bit when he had gotten home from his golf week in Myrtle Beach.... While I did not have the financial expense with this move I feel the same way as David and Katie....While I had hoped mom could become more independent if off the opioids, I had a gut feeling that a nursing home was the way to go where she was not ever in control of her meds and she had the care and meals she needed!
The place she was in in Raleigh got 2 stars for long term care....there has to be something better and cheaper in TX! Annie/Jim-
So, now that I have calmed down a bit, I would like to give some words of encouragement. You need to take care of yourself....I hate that you had to experience this, but welcome to our world for the past 10 years (even worse the past few). You have to not let her get to you. Thus our distancing ourselves from her. I do want to say that you probably saved her life by taking her down there. I have removed Kris from this email because she absolutely can not come back to NC and Kris "taking care" of her. David and I were sure we were going to get a call soon that Nanie overdosed or died of some other medical issue related to the opiods. It is not your job to take care of her. Move her to a nursing home that has the different levels of care. If she wants to live out the rest of her life in a hospital bed, then so be it. It's her life. She needs to know she is slowly killing herself. A doctor needs to tell her this. David almost died...he changed because he wanted to live. Again, you can't change a person, they have to want to change and get better.
I have learned so much about addiction in the past 10 years. Therapy helped me deal with David's addiction as well as my own issues. I can also now pick out anyone who is a manipulative person.
I'm sure there are local ones, but here's the national substance abuse helpline: www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Or the Opiod treatment program...there are tons in San Antonio; dpt2.samhsa.gov/treatment/
Do what you can and let the nursing home do the rest.
Love,
Katie
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Post by gymma60 on Oct 26, 2019 14:38:45 GMT
So back to Wednesday to finish catching up...
Carole...I would be so excited about only having HSA as a choice...I had heard that you had to have $$$ in it to use it because it's like a savings account but you never lose any of it so it you don't use it it just keeps building. If we had that, I would always put the max in there every year...I think for us in PA the FSA is max of $2600/year which is $100/paycheck for me but if I think of it as long term health savings account that goes on after I no longer work it really is the better option than the FSA. I hate each year trying to figure out how much to put in the FSA hoping I'm not scrambling at the end to get the balance down to $500 or less. With our old insurance it was never an issue but when we got the new insurance after we were bought I got caught with WAY too much left and just had to buy things like bandaids, contact solution for the girls, all sorts of stuff I didn't need yet but would have lost a lot of $$$. I say any amount you put in at this point in an HSA is a win/win....it will always be yours and if you hit retirement with a little "nest egg" to use for medical expenses then that's a bonus!
I will say, I do much better having stuff taken out of my paycheck and put in "forced savings" as I call them than I do if I get a paycheck and then have to take it upon myself to set it aside. I mean well when I want to save for something but if the $$$ ends up in my paycheck it rarely makes it to that "special fund" spot! I just don't do it...always find another bill to pay off or something else to use the $$ for. If it is taken out of my check and put in an account I actually have to make and effort to get to it....I will tend to leave it there!
Christine...sorry for the computer glitch and lost post...always frustrating! Have you been having internet issues or was is just a fluke??? Knock on wood, our internet is usually pretty good....we used to be an "iffy" spot of consistent service but it has really improved over the years and unless we have severe weather or someone hits a pole or something we are usually good. Same will power....
Lisa....bummer about the stripes on your shirt....do you use fabric softener?? I've had spots on clothes from fabric softener. I think the giraffe shirt if fun! Will be anxious to hear if you get approval for the extra hours. Sounds like lots of moving from one place to the other, you might find some muscles you didn't know you had the next day....
Shelly...isn't it funny how bad weather brings everyone out to shop!! Not sure how long they think they will be unable to shop but it brings them all out just the same. Yes, this actually was a pretty good garden season all in all. Somethings did better than others which happens all the time but the weather was pretty cooperative
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Post by gymma60 on Oct 26, 2019 15:36:31 GMT
Carole...I'm sure when you wake up early your brain really starts to swirl with so much on your mind...hopefully you made it through Thursday without hitting the wall too hard in the afternoon....I know when I'm awake early or sleep poorly, about 2:30-3:00 pm I hit a wall and my brain goes to mush so I'm down to doing things that don't take a lot of deep concentration to complete!
Really??? Back burner the ATM settlement?? Why is it that your stuff has to take the back seat?? Hopefully when you get back on Tuesday you are not stuck with a huge bunch of chaos to clean up! I don't blame you ....I wouldn't care either! You can only do so much and Crystal is the boss and if she says let things go....just do it!
LOL...not sure what it is about seeing me sitting here reading and typing that makes Jason think I want to have him yacking in my ear??? I can be doing dishes where it wouldn't matter if he was talking and he says nothing...as soon as I get on the computer or get doing something that he can see I'm reading or concentrating and his mouth start to go.... Yes, thankfully the sweet potatoes did keep him busy and then he warmed up his supper and went down to watch the ball game!
Yes, I do love the smell of Thieves...it's a spicy, clean smell to me. I think I'm going to make a couple rollers for me and Jason to use this time of year morning and night to boost our immune systems too....going to check with Sarah to see if there is a drops of oil to carrier oil to DIY my own....I have the coconut oil and Thieves and can definitely make it cheaper than buying the pre-mixed rollers.
So glad to hear the wheels are moving for Matt...I know it's over-whelming for everyone but being pro-active is a good thing...keep thinks moving forward to the finish line.....yes, Matt's email is worrisome but better to be overly cautious and keep things moving. I know with my DSS and her breast cancer things move so quickly and it's not uncommon to try and piggyback procedures like the ultrasound/pic line for chemo into one appointment... Also remember that the oncologist only sees the test results but the surgeons see the results and that actual anatomy when they get inside the body so they will have a more "enlightened" and sometimes more worrisome take on things. Maybe the surgeon has seen this picture and sometimes it means things are more invasive and other times it's just the anatomy of the patient that gives them a shadow or other artifact on the test that may lead them to think it is more advanced. Glad the surgeon also suggested a 2nd opinion at a bigger facility....Sloan Kettering is wonderful facility.
I'm sure the kids will have a wonderful time at the Aquarium...yes, a lot on their minds but Zoe being so young can help to distract them if only for an afternoon or weekend.... until all the questions are answered and the treatment path is set I'm glad they are trying to keep things "normal" for her....her life will soon be turned upside down too but for now she really doesn't have any idea what is going on.... BTW Carole, you might be able to get a train or something into NYC so you don't have to drive...I know that's what Karen & Bobby do from CT and Lynne & Phil from here in PA take the train that goes right into the city and it is really reasonable price-wise.....lots less stress for driving and parking in the city!
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Post by gymma60 on Oct 26, 2019 16:20:34 GMT
OOPS Christine....who knows what the internet glitch was....I know sometimes Jason will hit things he didn't realize he hit and panic when everything is gone. That's part of why I like a PC and not a laptop...I tend to more accidental keystrokes on a laptop.... I'm with you, I'm always in layers at work, especially this time of year....I go from one part of the plant and it's cold, and others are toasty. I also have a sweatshirt on the back of my chair for the few times in the summer I get chilly. I will say I'm lucky in my office the temp stays pretty consistent but there are some offices that go from AC on "over drive" to feeling like the AC is off....it's crazy how some areas fluctuate so much!
Ah yes Lisa...hard to give up those sandals. I gave mine up when we were in NE...came home, turned the heat on and retired the capris and sandals for the season...makes me sad but it happens every year much to my dismay! Come on spring...I'm ready for you! I do love fall, don't get me wrong but I can live w/o winter!
Hi Jenny....oh no!! So sorry to hear of DH biopsy results. So glad, like Matt, they are being proactive and getting the CT scan done right away. I know he will love the mashed potatoes and gravy for Turkey Day. I know when I first had my basal cell carcinoma removed it's unnerving....I've lost people to melanoma and when they first said skin cancer that is where my mind immediately went....thankfully my two spots were both basal and from the sun as a kid and lack of sunscreen use by any of us back then. Fingers crossed it has not spread and they can remove it once his mouth is healed he will just need to be pro-active for any re-occurrence of anything in his mouth or other areas. I know for me, I'm way more observant of moles, spots, etc and always get my annual check up at the dermatologist.
Yes Jenny...the "lot" garden is a 1/2 acres building lot....plus he has a 45 x 62' garden at our house....each row of sweet potatoes is 80+ feet and there are 4 1/2 rows....as I said, we usually get low 20's for bushel tallies each year....33+ bushels this year is crazy! Not to mention the 58 butternut squash we got....27 of which were off a "volunteer" plant that came up in the compost pile here at the house!
OMG Shelly...not snow already??? 8" and no power for 5 hours too! That's crazy...hope the power stays on now! Good idea to get your shower, just in case! That is the one thing about no power...no power is no nothing at our house! Have fun in Lubbock....when is the dance recital?? Good luck to Keeley this year in her try out!
Gabrielle...Glad you arrived safe and sound and your "home away from home" is nice. Good idea to be close to the metro. In DC, public transportation is the way to go. Many people who live in the city don't even own cars. Did you get to the Korean War memorial at night...we went during the day but Karen & Bobby had seen it the first time at night and the way they light it and then there is the ground fog coming up and they said it was really moving and almost creepy....they said we really need to see it again at night....it's a whole different feeling than during the day!
I had seen on the news that they were doing the power outages again in your area...at least it wasn't as long this time...hopefully they can get the fires under control and this one coming on Sunday will be the last time. Bummer you had to deal with a little work work while away...hopefully no more!
Carole...saw you made great time yesterday getting to DC, despite the usual beltway traffic it seems the travel gods were with you! I use either Google Maps or Waze....I've leaned more on Waze lately, they seem to be more "real time" than Google these days plus they warn you if there is an accident, police or other situation along the way that might cause traffic issues.
Carole...until Matt has all the answers and a "game plan" for treatment, there is nothing you can do for him except support him, be a listening ear and let him be in charge. Yes, they will be in Mystic and having a nice family weekend. I would assume that the pic line will be done Thursday with the ultrasound.....
Glad you got to do your own work on Thursday Carole so hopefully Deb is "up to speed" on Debbie's stuff so you don't come home to chaos. Good idea to use those 4 hours OT as "vacation" yesterday to leave those other 4 hours for later for either another afternoon off or for a few hours to help out Matt if needed. Glad Crystal was agreeable to that option!
LOL Carole and Jenny...don't we all enjoy the mashed potatoes and gravy at Thanksgiving....I love to put my turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and mashed butternut all close together and smother them all with gravy!! YUM!! That is one of my favorite meals of the year. If you didn't dirty so many dishes I would love to do it another time of the year but it's so much work it's a once a year thing for me! I have to settle on one pan pot roast with all the fixin's for that comfort meal instead. Thanksgiving dinner and Pot Roast are my two favorite comfort meals...both of which involve gravy!! LOL!
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Post by gymma60 on Oct 26, 2019 17:18:22 GMT
Carole...might be a good idea to go in on a Saturday or two to get the settlement caught up...I know with that done it's one more thing off your mind. Heaven knows you have a lot on your mind these days and if a Saturday or two will get something off your plate it would be worth it! Cut yourself some slack....you do an AWESOME job at the bank and review was spot on....face it not only do you have Debbie's situation at work added to the already ongoing drama of your office you've added Matt's diagnosis and uncertainty to your plate....you have not fallen apart! You are holding up quite well my friend considering all that has been heaped upon you all at once!
Yes Carole...I think Eden might like the Kiwi Crates.....I know Kale & Rowan love them and look forward to when the arrive. Not sure if Shea's folks are doing it again this year or not but they have done them for several years and the boys love them. I like the fact there are several options for each age group to tailor it toward the child.
LOL, yes, in garden season I have peace and quiet....as the days get shorter he's here and can drive me nuts! I love him but now I understand why he plans to keep working longer until I'm closer to retirement age. If he was home all day by himself this time of year by the time I got home he would never give me any peace! At least if he works he has humans to talk to for part of his day and I only get a little bit of his chatter! Retirement will be interesting....I can see why some couples drive each other nuts when home all day together!
Christine...I think all of us were glad Friday had arrived! It was one of those weeks at work that everyone you passed in the halls or in the plant commented on how glad they were Friday had arrived. Glad you are down to one final report and then you can breathe again and get back to a normal routine! OMG Christine how scary for those parents....it just turns my stomach to hear of predators going after the vulnerable. I will say, part of the issue is the fact that kids get phones and access to social media so young these days. Colton has been asking for a cell phone and Sarah and Josh are standing firm to NO....he doesn't need one and the iPad and his tablet from school have parental controls to keep him away from pretty much most of the "ugliness" out there but it's so hard these days. Glad you were able to point them in the direction of a good therapist. That was very thoughtful of the mom to send the thank you email....just reaffirms that you ARE in the right place for your job.....you make a HUGE difference in many lives.
It's funny Christine...3 of the Y gang all work at Sheridan...yesterday Lynne, Vonnie and I all ended up in the cafeteria at the same time and we all commented about how excited we are for tonight....we all have aging parent issues, we all have grown kids that we still worry about and know that we have no real control....we just need time to relax, vent, laugh and just let off a little steam to refresh and regroup!
Gabrielle....I'm sure the 3 hour time difference messes with your internal sleep timer! I know even just an hour to Hannah's in Nebraska takes a day or so for my body to adjust. Sounds like you are making the most of your quick weekend in DC. Yes, that email was from Annie....no FaceTime with them, they don't even have cell phones....they are the ones who home-school to protect their kids from the "ugliness" of the world! I did have a tough day concentrating yesterday...thankfully I didn't have anything that was super pressing so I actually went out and did some handwork of bellybanding which is just mindless and there is usually a few people at the table so you can just sit and chat....I needed that!
Lisa...hope you were able to get in for a hair cut. Yes, it is funny this group has a wide range of ages...even in the beginning when were "40's and starting over" there were some that were still in the mid 30's but for some reason most of us were all in same spot in our lives.....we were married, kids most in school and still at home, we worked, we struggled with weight....so many things in common that age wasn't a huge issue. We did after many of us got into our 50's, switched to the next decade but still....I think we still have a few "40 something" among us....Carole I think is the first to jump to the next decade and I'm right behind you come next July! It truly is just a number but we found each other and we stick together like glue regardless of that the age!
Honestly ladies...I think Kris is still "filling mom's head" with the negativity and not helping to get mom off the opiods...I think Kris continues to tell mom that "WE" are all the bad guys wanting her to be in pain and we don't "understand" how she feels. As you see in the final email Katie wrote last night she took Kris off the email and actually "called her out" and stressed the fact that DM CANNOT come back to NC and be in the clutches of Kris again or it's over.....
Shelly....sorry for the continued staffing issues and the timing of Samantha's late arrival couldn't have been worse since you planned to get on the road. Glad you finally arrived safe and sound. What did Samantha have to say for herself when you "laid into her"?? Any excuses??
Carole...thanks for starting us off even on vacation! I was so jealous seeing your pictures last night...I so wish I could have pulled off the visit too but it was just not meant to be this time! Hopefully the tub warms up quickly so you can maybe enjoy it tonight after a long day of sightseeing. I'm sure it will feel good at that point. Isn't it funny how meeting on this thread and then not meeting in person for 10 years you still visit like you see each other in person often. I know meeting Barb for the 1st time on our way home from MI we chatted like we do it weekly over lunch....Jason even commented on that!
YUP Carole...we need to find a big VRBO or Air BNB that holds a lot of people and all meet in one place....that would be so much fun!! Since the marathon ends at the cemetery tomorrow, good idea to change your plans and visit today. WOW, 6k step and 100 oz of water even being in a car for 8 hours! That's amazing. I know I don't drink much on a road trip so we don't have to stop often!
OK...now just a little "Amanda" news....Colton told Josh and Sarah that his mom had a new boyfriend and they had all gone bowling last week. Originally she told Colton he was a friend and a couple days ago she told him that he was her boyfriend and they had been dating a couple weeks. She didn't think he was old enough to know his mom was "dating"! She has been seeing him for 2-3 weeks now and he has two sons, 10 & 12, and lives in MD. MD is close so not as far as it sounds....anyway, I get a call late last night from Sarah and she said that Josh got on PlayStation at 11:00 pm and Colton was logged on his mom's account....they have it set up that way so he can play against Josh and the boys when he is at his mom's and they play a lot that way. Anyway, he said he was at her boyfriend's house and was staying for 2 days....apparently they are spending the weekend with her brand new boyfriend and his boys. Well, call me a prude if you want, but her track record with boyfriends is like a couple dates to a couple months.....not sure it's a good thing to be spending the night at this point and including Colton and his two boys....if it works out great! But is her track record holds true to form....there will be a few disappointed boys who are starting to build a friendship and then it's just over. If she wants to spend the night, great but not sure that including the boys in "playing family" is a good thing this soon! OK...so if 3 days ago she didn't think Colton was old enough to know she was "dating"...how is it now OK to "play family"?
OK...well hogged the thread long enough....need to make my guacamole and get a shower....will be leaving in couple hours and really haven't accomplished much in between my posts. I know it will be late tonight so see you all in the morning!
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sschroeder509
Transcendent Member
My Journey.....197/208/140
Posts: 1,170
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Post by sschroeder509 on Oct 27, 2019 2:28:38 GMT
Just have a second but wanted to stop in and let you all know Keeley won Title!!!!! This qualifies her for a dance competition in Disney World this next summer!!!! Lots of fund raising to Be done. She also did very well on her other solo. Lexi did great for her first ever competition!!! So proud of her. She was definitely showing sass in her dance!!! One of the judges after it was all over really complemented Keeley and told her how good she did!!! She just has such natural talent. I love that she does so well and loves dancing.
Ok I’m going to get off here for tonight because my eye is still so swollen. I kept messing with it today trying to feel a bump or something that is causing it to hurt. I’m sure it’s probably a style or something but man it needs to go away and go away fast!!!!
Hope everyone has a good rest of their weekend!!!
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